Readers can vote in our poll on whether Britain handing over the Chagos Islands is an “act of stupidity” as Donald Trump has claimed
Donald Trump has blasted Sir Keir Starmer over the Chagos Islands deal (Image: Getty)
Donald Trump branded Sir Keir Starmer‘s deal to give up the Chagos Islands as an “act of stupidity” in a furious attack. The US President warned that handing the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius was a sign of “total weakness” by Britain.
The UK Government has agreed to relinquish the islands but will pay billions of pounds to lease back the strategically important Diego Garcia base. In an extraordinary post on his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump said: “Shockingly, our ‘brilliant’ NATO Ally, the United Kingdom, is currently planning to give away the Island of Diego Garcia, the site of a vital U.S. Military Base, to Mauritius, and to do so FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER.
“There is no doubt that China and Russia have noticed this act of total weakness.”
He cited the move as a reason for his continued push for the US to acquire Greenland, which is a semi-autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
The Republican added: “The UK giving away extremely important land is an act of GREAT STUPIDITY, and is another in a very long line of National Security reasons why Greenland has to be acquired.”
Mr Trump’s criticism comes as legislation to finalise the agreement is stuck between the Lords, where it has faced major opposition, and the Commons.
Opposition parties, including the Tories and Reform, backed the US leader’s criticism of the controversial plan.
A Government spokesman said: “The UK will never compromise on our national security. We acted because the base on Diego Garcia was under threat after court decisions undermined our position and would have prevented it operating as intended in future.
“This deal secures the operations of the joint US-UK base on Diego Garcia for generations, with robust provisions for keeping its unique capabilities intact and our adversaries out.
“It has been publicly welcomed by the US, Australia and all other Five Eyes allies, as well as key international partners including India, Japan and South Korea.”
